Feeler mechanism for looms



Oct. 7 1924. 1,511,1 3

M. L. STONE v FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 4, 1924 2 Sheuts-Shafl' Oct. 7 1924.

' M. L. STONE FEELER mncna msm FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sh nt 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1924 Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN L. STONE, F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed January 4, 1924. Serial No. 684,435.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN L. S'roNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and vState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the operative condition of the loom is changed when the filling is substantially exhausted in the shuttle.

Inaccordance with the present invention, the feeler mechanism is provided with a lock which prevents premature call for replenishment of filling and yet permits the feeler to effect replenishment of filling when that in the active shuttle is. substantially exhausted.

In feeler mechanisms of the side swipe type, that is, where the feeler itself is moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, it sometimes happens that the feeler will engage a working supply of'filling on a detecting beat and by the impulsive contact will fail to be held from movement longitudinally of the filling carrier and prematurely call for a change of filling even though a working supply is present in the shuttle. One of the objects of the present invention, there fore, is to provide a feeler mechanism wherein the feeler is prevented from prematurely calling for a change of filling and is freed for movement longitudinally of the filling carrier when the filling approaches a condition of substantial exhaustion but not prior thereto. i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention with the feeler engaged with a working supply of filling on a detecting beat;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the relation of parts when the feeler engages the filling in the shuttle which has approached to a condition of substantial exhaustion;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 415 a longitudinal section on the line i..5tt tofFig.l

Cal

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of certain parts of the locking mechanism, some of the features being broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a detached detail showing the trackway of the switch controlling mechanism.

It has not been deemed necessary herein to show the means for changing the operative condition of the loom through the feeler mechanism, such, for instance, as replenishment of filling, because the details of such mechanism form no part of the present invention.

The feeler of the resent illustrated form of the invention is o the inclined type which enters the shuttle in a. direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof on a detecting beat and is displaced longitudinally along the filling carrier by the frontward pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted to thereby call for replenishment, and while the advantages of the present invention are clearly manifested in this type of feeler mechanism, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto but may be employed in a feeler mechanism wherein other means than the frontward pressure may displace the feeler laterally along the filling carrier when filling is substantially exhausted.

Inasmuch as the present invention pertains particularly to the feeler mechanism and the feeler lock, the loom parts are not herein shown, except in so far as willenable one skilled in the art to associate the feeler mechanism with the loom.

The feeler stand 1 is provided with a slot 2 through which passes a bolt 3 by which the feeler stand may be adjustably secured to the loom frame, as usual.

The rear of the feeler stand 1 has a guideway formed by the upstanding portions 1 and 5 to provide a guide for a slide or laterally movable member 6 having a slot 7 through which the feeler 8 extends, and connected to the slide 6 is a transmitter 9 by which movement of the slide under call of the feeler may effect replenishment of filling.

The frontwardly extending stem portion 10 of the feeler passes through a bearing or swivel block 11 mounted upon the bracket 12 secured to the feeler stand, and between the swivel block 11 and the bridge 13 which is secured to the feeler is a spring 14 normally tending to move the feeler into its rearward feeling position. The parts thus far described may be substantially the same as those more fully shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,226, July 8, 1919, and need no further description.

The filling carrier is of the usual typeand carries the filling 16 when the filling carrier is in the shuttle, but the shuttle box with its slotted front wall and the shuttle with its similarlyslotted front wall are'not herein. shown becausethey are now well understood and of the usual: type to enable the feeler to enter the shuttle on; a detecting beat to. feel for the filling in. the shuttle.

In accordance with the present invention a lock is provided toirestrain. tl'iefeeler from sideswi-pe movement prematurely and: to re lease the feelerto. such. movement when. the;

filling approaches but before it reaches sub.- stantial; exhaustion.

. Connectedto the feeler isa lock operating member which is moved by the feeler 0111 de tecting beats and? through. such. movement effects both the locking andu-nlocking posicured: to the feel'er at 18 and. extending frontwardly therefrom. The downturnedfront end portion 19. of the arm carries a switch 20 which is pivotally connected to the arm at 21. Preferably the lock. ope-rating member is adjustable in length by a screw 22 which may be properly manipulated: to lengthen or shorten the arm. by means of a thumb nut 23'.

-The present invention provides a track way for the switch, and as shown: in the present instance the trackway' 24;. is formed inthe feeler stand and has a central portion 25 which provides between the walls 26of the trackway' and the central portion a part at eachside the central portion in which the switch is adapted to travel when moved by- I the feeler on a detectingbeat, as will: herein after more fully appear.

Pivotal'l y mounted, preferably on the feeler stand 1, is the rocker arm 27, Fig. 5, its pivot being shown as formed by a stud 28 extending upwardlyinto the feeler stand at one side of the trackway. Rising from the rocker 27 opposite sides of its pivotal support 28 are the studs 29 and 30 each of which carries a collar 31, 32 secured thereto as by" a pin 33, 34, and each of the collars 31, 32has a tooth 3'5, 36 adapted at times to' 39 a locking pin 40, the rear end portionof which extends through the front Wfiill of" the rear bearing of the slide 6. and is adapted to engage the slide 6. when. in operative position to prevent movement thereof. In the present instance of the invention, the rear end portion of the locking pin 4'0 engages a recess or hole 11 formed in the slide 6, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that when the locking pin 40 is entoothed: portions, extend slightly" beyond the central member 25 and the wallv of the trackway 26. in position. to be engaged by'tlie switch 20 under conditions presently to be. described. To provide for the projection of the tooth 35, 36 into thetrackway 245, the

centralv member 25 and the wall '26 of the trackway are undercut or provided witlr a cover plate, as: showm. to permit. the. tooth.

to extend into the path. of the switch, and

yet protect the parts from accidental; dis.- turbance- The switch. 20' has. its:v end portionse, 4'5

extending in opposite directions, as; indicated, tofform' lock actuating teeth, and the.

spring 4C6 normally acts upon thBPSWllZClLtO.

turn the. latter. or tend toturn itin. a. clockwise d-irectiomshown iniligsll, 2. and 3.

hen a, working supply. of filling is.

present in (the. shuttle on a: detectingbeat:

and. the feeler is moved frontwairdlythereby, as. indicated in. Fig; 1, the. arm.

1'7, is likewise. moved, frontwardlly thereby moving the Switch frontwardly in thev trackway 24 until: theend 455 ofthezswitchv extends beyond the front end portion-ct the central member 25. of, the trackway, as.

indicated i111 Fig. 1.. As. the laygoes back after-- its frontwardabeat and; the parts are located relatively, as in Fig. 1 the arm 1375 likewise retreats and the switch passes. along the. trackwayatthe opposite: side of the, central: member 25; If at. suclrtime the. feeler: lock is: not in operatiwe. position and err gaged with the slide 6,. the toothed end-i of the switch. will. engagethe tooth. 365 ofthe collar and turn the rocker- 2'Z'to" set the.

lock. 0n: subsequent detectingbeats, so long as a working supply 1s;presentin-.the=

shuttle, the switch 20 will continne-tonmore.

in the different paths: indicated bythe; arrows in Fig.1: and the; lock willremain. in? looking position. When the filling 31p? proaches substantial exhaustion but. prior theretothe feeler will be movedlfimlrtwardtit traveled frontwa-rdly, as indicated by the double arrow, Fig. 2, and on its rearward movement the toothed end portion 45 of the switch willengage the tooth 35 of the collar 31 and cause the rocker 27 to be rocked in a clockwise direction, Figs. 1, 2 and 5, thereby withdrawing the lock 40 from its locking position and freeing the feeler for movevment longitudinally along the filling carrier or longitudinally or" the shuttle, a movement that will take place when the filling later reaches a degree of substantial exhaustion.

Movement of the feeler along the filling carrier or longitudinally of the shuttle is utilized in the present instance to effect rep-lenishment of filling substantially as in the Edward S. Stimpson patent hereinbefore mentioned, and on the next detecting beat with a working supply of filling in the shuttle, the feeler will again be. moved frontwardly to carry the switch 20 frontward of the central member 25 and the switch will then retreat as the lay goes back in the opposite pathway, as indicated in Fig. 1. As the switch moves backwardly under the conditions stat-ed, it will engage the tooth 36 of the collar 32 thereby nocking the rocker 27 to a ain set the lock, and thereafter the lock wi ll remain set until the filling approaches a predetermined degree of substantial exhaustion.

From the construction described, it will be seen that the present invention provides a feeler with a lock which is operated from the feeler to both set and unlock the lock, and while the mechanism shown and described is found to be a good practical form of the invention, it is obvious that changes may be made within the scope of the mechanical equivalents without departure from the present invention, since. applicant believes himself to be the first in the art to provide a feeler mechanism with a. feeler' lock which is operated by the 'feeler to trip the lock when filling approaches a degree of substantial exhaustion, and he also believes himself to be the first in the art to provide a feeler lock which is actuated by the feeler to both look and unlock the feeler.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclined side swipe feeler, a lock normally acting to prevent premature side swipe movement of thefeeler, a lock cooperating member carried by the feeler and movable thereby in a prescribed path on each detecting beat until the filling reaches a redetermined degree of exhaustion and thereupon being moved in a different path as the feeler goes back that .the lock tripping member may trip the lock and free the feeler to side swipe movement when the filling is substantially exhausted.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a side swipe feeler, a lock for preventing premature side swipe movement of the feeler, and a lock operating membermoved by the feeler for both setting and tripping the lock.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a side swipe feeler, a lock for preventing premature side swipe movement of the feeler, and a lock operating member moved in one direction for setting the lock, and moved in another direction by the feeler for tripping the lock when the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion.

4. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising a side swipe feeler, a laterally movable slide through which the feeler extends, a lock acting upon the slide to prevent its lateral movement, and a lock operating member which is actuated by the feeler for disengaging the lock from the slide when the filling approaches substantial exhaustion.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, a.

lock normally acting to prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle to call for replenishment of filling, and a lock operating arm permanently connected to the feeler and movable thereby in a normal path on each detecting beat until the filling has reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion and thereupon being movable in an ab normal path by the feeler to trip the lock and free the feeler to movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling, a lock normally acting to restrain movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier, a lock operating member mounted on the feeler and movable thereby in a normal path until the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion and thereupon being movable in an abnormal path by the feeler to trip the lock and free the feeler to movement along the filling carrier when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle.

In a feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally along the filling carrier in the shuttle to initiate replenishment of filling, a lock toprevent such movement: of the fee'ler prematurely, and: a lock operating" member Connected to and: movable by the :t'eeler to trip the lock through feeler movement when the filling in for movement longitudinally along the filling carrier in the shuttle to initiate replenishment of filling, a lock to prevent such niiovement of the feeler prematurely, and a lock operating member" and switch movable by the feeler to trip the lock when the filling in; the shuttle approaches substantial exhaustion.

9'; In a feelei' mechanism for looms, the combination of v a feeler mounted; for movement along the filling carrier in the shuttle- When the fii l'ling is sub stantially exhausted toeffect replenishment of filling, a swinging arm: connected to the teeler and movable therewith, a switch device for swinging the arm as it is moved by the feeler, and a lock constructed and arranged to be tripped: byfeelerindu'eed movement of the arm when the filling approaches substantial exhaustion 10'. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising; in: combination, a feeler supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to. the longitudinal axis thereof and to be moved alongthe filling carrier by the frontward pressure to effect replenishment of filliing, a slide thronghwl iich the: teeler extends, a lock for engaging the slide to prevent. mo ement ot the feeler: along the filling carrier, and? means actuated by feeler movement when the filling approaches substantial exhaustion to. tiiip theloek and. free the fee-ler to moveizn'ent along the, filling; carrier.

11:. In,- a feelei' mechanism for looms, the combination ot a feeder, a feelen lock. to prevent premature replenishment of filling by the feeler, a switch, a trackway for the switch, means associated With the; feeler for moving the switch in the traclmvay' and rendered elifective to; trip) the lock when the lieeler detects a near approach to substantial exhaustion ot the filling in the shuttle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.v

MELVIN L. STQN E. 

